How To Fix A Garage Door
Royal Garage Doors is rated 5.0 from 500+ reviews, with 15 years in business and technicians averaging 12 years of hands-on experience installing and repairing doors across Toronto and the wider GTA.
How do you fix a garage door?
How to fix a garage door: start with the cheap checks — power, remote batteries, photo-eye sensor alignment, clear tracks and lubrication. If the door is heavy to lift, a broken spring or cable is the problem; Royal Garage Doors handles those, with most repairs $180–$460 + tax.
My garage door won’t close — what’s wrong?
Almost always the safety sensors. Clean both lenses and align them until the LEDs are solid and steady. Also check for anything blocking the beam near the floor.
- Rating
- 5.0★ from 500+ verified Google reviews
- Experience
- 15 years in business across the GTA
- Warranty
- Workmanship guarantee; 5 years on hardware, 90 days follow-up
- Author
- Nick Thompson, Founder & Lead Technician
Safe DIY garage door troubleshooting (in order)
- Power & remote: confirm the opener has power; replace remote/keypad batteries; try the wall button.
- Safety sensors: clean both photo-eye lenses and align them until the LEDs are solid — the top cause of a door that won’t close.
- Tracks: clear debris and old grease so rollers glide; don’t bend the rails.
- Lubrication: spray rollers, hinges, bearings and the spring with garage-door lube.
- Balance test: with the door down, pull the red cord and lift halfway by hand. It should stay put. If it’s heavy or drops, the spring is the problem.
Common problems and what they mean
- Won’t close / reverses: misaligned or dirty sensors.
- Opener runs, door still: disconnected trolley or broken spring/cable.
- Noisy / jerky: dry or worn rollers, loose hardware.
- Heavy by hand: broken or weak spring — see broken spring guide.
- Crooked / binding: off-track or bent rail — see track repair.
What you should never DIY
Torsion springs, lift cables, and lifting an unbalanced door. These carry the door’s full weight and store dangerous tension — they’re the leading cause of garage door injuries. Leave them to a trained, insured technician.
When to call a professional
If the safe checks don’t solve it, or the door is heavy, off-track, or hanging dangerously, book a pro. Most repairs are same-day with a free service call.
Royal Garage Doors recommendation
Start with the checklist above. For parts that failed, see repair costs, or book repair, opener repair or a tune-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
My garage door won’t close — what’s wrong?
Almost always the safety sensors. Clean both lenses and align them until the LEDs are solid and steady. Also check for anything blocking the beam near the floor.
The opener runs but the door doesn’t move. Why?
The door is likely disconnected from the trolley (re-engage the release) or a spring/cable has broken so the opener can’t lift the weight. If it’s heavy by hand, call a pro.
What lubricant should I use?
A proper garage-door lubricant (silicone or lithium spray). Avoid WD-40 as a lubricant — it’s a solvent/degreaser, not a long-lasting lube.
How often should I maintain my door?
Lubricate and do a balance/sensor check every 6 months. A professional tune-up ($100–$120) once a year prevents most breakdowns.
Which problems should I never DIY?
Anything involving torsion springs, cables, or lifting a heavy/unbalanced door. The stored energy in a spring can cause serious injury.
Sources & standards: Garage door safety follows the UL 325 standard for automatic operators, and our technicians are certified by the International Door Association (IDEA). Pricing reflects current Royal Garage Doors rates for the GTA.
The bottom line: done right, the result is a garage door that opens quietly, balances correctly and is safe to use every day — backed by Royal's 1-year labour warranty so the outcome lasts.
